Pfizer names new member of board of directors

Pfizer has appointed Joseph Echevarria to its board of directors, a role that will also see him join the firm's audit, regulatory and compliance and science and technology committees.

Mr Echevarria is the former chief executive officer of global professional services provider Deloitte, a role from which he retired in August 2014, having been with the firm for 36 years, serving in various leadership roles.

Currently, he serves as a director of the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation as well as being a member of the President's Export Council and the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, and chair of Barack Obama's My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.

The company expects to benefit from his international business and leadership experience, as well as his considerable financial acumen.

Ian Read, Pfizer's chairman and chief executive officer, said: "With the addition of Joe to our board, Pfizer and its shareholders will continue to benefit from a breadth and diversity of experience.”

This comes after the firm appointed Dr Michael Ehlers and Dr John Lin to leadership roles within its worldwide research and development organisation last month.